Contents:
- Medical Video: 9 Kinds of Fish You Should Never Eat
- Not all catfish cause cancer
- Catfish from polluted waters can trigger the growth of cancer cells
- So, can we still eat catfish?
- Tips for safe eating catfish
Medical Video: 9 Kinds of Fish You Should Never Eat
You may have heard the news that eating catfish can cause cancer. For those of you who like to eat catfish, news like this certainly can make you become frantic. Actually this issue is just a myth or fact, right? Come on, first check the truth of the issue of cancer causing catfish below.
Not all catfish cause cancer
Catfish are freshwater fish that contain various important nutrients for the body, including proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B complex. So, catfish itself actually does not contain toxins or harmful substances that trigger cancer (carcinogenic) in the human body.
However, a number of studies reveal that certain catfish can indeed increase your risk of being attacked by cancer. This is because these catfish are contaminated with carcinogens, not because of the natural content in the catfish itself. So, not all types of catfish cause cancer.
Catfish from polluted waters can trigger the growth of cancer cells
Catfish can be contaminated with carcinogenic substances because they are cultivated in waters contaminated with various types of pollutants (pollutant-causing materials). A team of experts from the University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences in the United States proved this in their research.
The experts took catfish extract which grew in highly polluted waters. This extract is injected into breast cancer cells in the laboratory. The result, after being injected with contaminated catfish extract, turned out the cancer cells grew to multiply.
After further investigation, it turns out that catfish contain chemicals that are like the hormone estrogen in the human body. Estrogen levels that are too high in the body are known to increase the risk of breast cancer. Catfish tested by this expert team were taken from waters that had been mixed with factory waste and human waste.
So, this case is very similar to the case of mercury poisoning due to consumption of seafood. The fish itself is not dangerous. However, because water pollution is so serious, fish that live in these waters can be contaminated and eventually consumed by humans.
So, can we still eat catfish?
Don't be afraid, only catfish that come from polluted waters can increase the risk of cancer. While catfish obtained from catfish farms are safe for consumption by you and your family.
At present, catfish farms in Indonesia are regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The government itself has special conditions for catfish cultivation, such as water sources, cleanliness of facilities, use of chemicals, catfish feed, and others. This requirement is regulated in CBIB (How to Cultivate Good Fish).
So as long as the fish you choose comes from a farm that already has a CBIB certificate, you don't need to worry about the issue of whispering to neighbors that catfish cause cancer.
Tips for safe eating catfish
Even though catfish are safe for your health, it is sometimes difficult to determine which waters your catfish are from. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with reducing the risk by limiting how often you eat catfish. In general, catfish are safe for consumption two to three times a week.
In addition, you can also remove catfish skin before it is processed into cooking. The problem is, fish skin is usually most easily polluted by pollutants in dirty waters.
You should also vary your side dishes every day. The more varied, the richer and more balanced the nutritional intake for your family's body.
